Hangman- Donald (VA) 1918 Sharp G
[My title. From English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians; 1932. Collected by Cecil J. Sharp (1859-1924) and Olive Dame Campbell. Edited by Maud Karpeles. Their notes follow.
At least three other versions were collected in that area in 1918 (see Sharp MS).
R. Matteson 2015]
Notes: No. 24. The Maid Freed from the Gallows.
Texts without tunes:—Child, No. 95.
Texts with tunes:—English County Songs, p. 112. Folk Songs from Somerset, No. 121.
Journal of the Folk-Song Society, v., 228. American variants:—American Journal of Folk-Lore, xxi., 56; xxvi., 175. Musical
Quarterly, January, 1916, pp. 10 and 11 (without tunes). Wyman and Brockway's
Lonesome Tunes, p. 44.
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Sharp diary 1918 page 160. Thursday 6 June 1918 - Blue Ridge Springs
Breakfast at 6.30. Caught 7 train for Dewey a small flag-station between here & Montvale. Walked to Mrs Donald’s house and got Mrs Donald — an old lady — to sing which she did very beautifully giving me 10 first rate tunes — words not of much account. Then walked on to the Lawson Gray’s eating our lunch in a wood (bread and raisins is my fare, but Maud debauches herself with hard-boiled eggs) getting there about 11. Had quite a concert, Mrs Tina Dooley, Mr Gray’s sister being there and singing rather well. We sang a great many songs, The two Crows being the most popular one. I got some nice songs and at 2.30 we walked back to Montvale station, in a shower, which though not very heavy, spoiled my new white umbrella! Very tired on getting back. Had milk and tea & rested till dinner. Sang songs on verandah to the hotel guests in the evening.
G. [Hangman] Sung by Mrs. LAURA DONALD at Dewey, Va., June 6, 1918
Hexatonic (no 6th).
1. O hangman, hangman, slacken your rope,
O slacken it for while,
I think I see my mother a-coming,
She's a-coming for one long mile, mile,
She's a coming for one long mile.
2 O mother, have you brought me money?
Have you come to pay my fee?
But have you come for to see me hanging
On this old gallows-tree?
3 I've neither come for to bring you money,
Nor neither for to pay your fee,
But I have come to see you hanging
On this old gallows-tree.
Last verse (after the true-love has appeared).
I have come for to bring you money,
And money for to pay your fee,
And to keep you now from hanging
On this old gallows-tree.